Annerie Dercksen delivered a superb all-round performance as the Proteas Women beat the Pakistan Women by 16 runs in the second ODI in Centurion.
Dercksen top-scored with 90 off 68 balls (six fours, four sixes), while Tazmin Brits struck 77 from 62 (10 fours, 2 sixes) and Suné Luus 57 off 67 (four fours) as South Africa posted a commanding 361-8 in their 50 overs.
Pakistan responded with 345 all out in 49.5 overs with half-centuries from Sadaf Shamas (61), Ayesha Zafar (75) and Fatima Sana (52).
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Asked to bat, South Africa made a bright start through Laura Wolvaardt (20) and Brits, who put on 50 before Sadia Iqbal (2-65) removed the captain in the ninth over. The hosts reached 64-1 at the end of the powerplay, with Brits bringing up her half-century as the total passed 100.
After Faye Tunnicliffe (seven) fell to Aroob Shah (2-49), Brits was stumped off Nashra Sandhu (1-79) in the 19th over. However, Luus and Dercksen combined for a 50-run stand to steady the innings, taking the Proteas Women to 178-3 after 30 overs.
Luus recorded her 20th ODI half-century before falling to Shah, while Dercksen continued to dominate, registering her third ODI fifty. Despite the loss of Sinalo Jafta (six), South Africa accelerated in the final 10 overs through Chloé Tryon (37) and Nadine de Klerk (49), finishing with their second-highest ODI total.
Pakistan’s chase suffered early blows as Dercksen (3-59) removed Muneeba Ali (five) and Sidra Amin (nine). Shamas and Zafar rebuilt with a 97-run partnership before Luus (1-34) made the breakthrough.
Zafar reached her fifth ODI fifty before Nondumiso Shangase (2-30) triggered a collapse with two wickets in two balls. Dercksen then struck again to remove Natalia Pervaiz (27).
Sana and Shah (40) launched a spirited counterattack with an 81-run stand, but Nonkululeko Mlaba (2-68) dismissed Sana in her milestone 50th ODI. De Klerk (2-66) tightened South Africa’s grip late on, and Mlaba claimed the final wicket with the penultimate ball to seal victory.
The third and final ODI takes place at Kingsmead on Sunday (10am).
Photo: Christiaan Kotze/Gallo Images
